<p>I'm not making this thread because I'm lazy its just I don't know where to start.</p>
<p>I would like to live in england for about 3 weeks. I was thinking something along the lines of having a host family and getting a job there to pay for whatever expenses. My parents would probably help with the money as well.</p>
<p>I guess I want to do this to just know what it's like to start fresh and what the culture differences are. I really think it would be fun.</p>
<p>So any of your EXTRAORDINARY PARENTS know how to get this started? I'm sure some of you have kids who have done this already.</p>
<p>Drop a few pointers and it will be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I seriously doubt you'll be able to get a work visa if you're only going to be in the country for 3 weeks... unless the host family has a family business and you 'help out' (which would still make you an illegal worker if they paid you, but it's less likely anyone would find out - I am really NOT advocating you do this, I think it's a really stupid idea). </p>
<p>As for 'what the culture differences are', I can probably help if you break it down a little. Culture differences in terms of what? </p>
<p>As citygirlsmom said, if you really don't know where to start you'd be better off doing a programme.</p>
<p>Can one really "know" what it's like to "start fresh and what the culture differences are" in 3 weeks? I would think one would still be in the honeymoon phase, and not have begun to feel reality in such a short time.</p>
<p>Way back(30 years ago) when I was a brand new college grad I got job in England working on an archeological site - I actually worked on 3 different sites, one was a medievel castle though all that was left were robber trenches, the other two sites were even older. I had a B.A. in anthropology and had some field experience. Though even at the time it felt more like a job digging trenches than doing archeology - we really just did physical labor. There were kids from other countries that came for just two or three weeks. Most of us stayed longer(I worked as a digger for about 2 months and then took off to travel with friends for a few weeks on pennies a day). We lived in "derilect housing" - no hot running water in the house I was in - we'd go down the street for a bath(one bath tub with a very small hot water heater used by about 15 "diggers"). No work visas were required (don't know if that has changed) - but we were only paid 2 pounds a day and we had to work 6 days a week. And as I remember 2 pounds a week was deducted to pay for our housing. No food was provided - so we lived off eggs and sausage & fish & chips. It was a fun opportunity to live in another country & to meet other students from around the world. But one really had to be willing to rough it. We all slept in different rooms of the houses in our sleeping bags. English kids who were hired as "diggers" were paid more than those of us who came from outside the U.K. but I think they also had to make a longer term commitment. It was really back breaking physical labor. We used to sing "trowel it over, trowel it over" during our long days in the hot sun. I don't know if jobs like this still exist but I would imagine you could google archeologist UK and see if you come up with anything (or try "diggers UK").</p>
<p>@ citygirlsmom: I'm 17, a graduating senior in HS.</p>
<p>@ Laylah: So I guess a job is out of question. </p>
<p>"if you really don't know where to start you'd be better off doing a programme." </p>
<p>Could you explain?</p>
<p>@ "just"aMom: I don't plan on taking a vacation. What I wanted to do was attempt to live like any other 17 yr old U.K citizen. 3 weeks of working, learning to communicate, pay bills, and becoming a socially active can be a great experience. At least I think so.</p>
<p>But I understand what you're saying and I'm trying hard to make this experience as intellectually enriching as possible.</p>
<p>@ oaklandmom: That actually sounds like fun and I'm not saying this with any sarcasm. I did some research and came across this site.</p>
<p>Was this something like what you did? Except of course in this case I'm paying instead of being paid.</p>
<p>It was a fun experience - I just know that not everyone is willing to live in derilect housing without hot running water! The program you found does sound similar to what I did - except it sounds like they've added on a bit of training. But it would probably be a very similar experience - lots of repetitive labor - whether its trowling or digging trenches. But nicer living conditions - tents & showers! that would have been luxury! I think any time you can travel to another country and actually live with people there it does give you another insight into other cultures that you don't get as a tourist staying in hotels. And you never know who you might meet - when I was working as a digger, a British girl asked me to come and spend a week at her house - it turned out to be an Estate in the countryside - so I got to go from living in derlict housing to a country manor complete with servants for a week! (but then it was back to digging for another month or so til my friends flew across the pond and we took off traveling). Another idea if you're interested might be a language immersion program. A friend of mine has traveled all over South & Central America with her son - they go to Spanish Language immersion programs. They live with a family and take daily language classes. Its been a great way for them both to become better Spanish speakers.</p>
<p>Well, I think that if you do a organised programme that involves a series of scheduled events, you'll get more out of the trip. Three weeks is not a very long time, and if you want to travel throughout the UK I think it would be easier for you if everything was scheduled in advance. </p>
<p>E.g., have a few days in London, then a few days in Oxford, a day in Stratford, a couple of days in Cambridge... it all mounts up, and would be difficult to organise by yourself (unless you have ninja-like management skills obviously ;) ).</p>
<p>I don't know if this would suit you, but there is an excellent creative writing program at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland for High school and Undergraduate students during the Summer. It appears to be full, but you might give it a shot. It is kind of expensive at 2600 Pounds for ~4 weeks, but I hear that it is worth it. St. Andrews is absolutely amazing during the summer and Edinburgh (one of the cultural centers of the UK) is about an hour away. Glasgow isn't too far either. You could always stick around afterward and go to the Fringe festival in Edinburgh and travel down south.</p>
<p>You will not be able to find any sort of legit job for that amount of time. I'm not sure if this is true for a tourist visa, but if you have a student visa, you are allowed to work as long as you don't work for more than 20 hours/wk. However, no one will hire you for a mere 3 weeks unless you're dishonest.</p>
<p>Living life like the typical 17yr in the U.K. might not be the best of ideas. You're liver and your taste buds will grow to hate you because of all the Bucky and Strongbow not to mention the other substances. [I'm just kidding... Well kind of... :P] </p>
<p>One of the pages says they are full, the other says they still have space. I'd send them an email if you are interested for this summer if I were you.</p>
<p>You could volunteer to "work" for the National Trust, English Heritage or RSPB. These charities accept volunteers to work on conservation projects during the summer months. Google them for more info but they are usually projects such as repairing stone walls in a national park. You pay a small amount for basic accommodation and food (like £60 for a week). </p>
<p>The life of a "typical 17 year old" who hasn't finished school, isn't living with parents and hasn't got a job would no doubt be on the dole ie living welfare in a rough council-owned estate. Having a baby aged 14 might also help complete the experience.</p>
<p>You might also look at the BUNAC work in Britain program (<a href="http://www.bunac.org%5B/url%5D">www.bunac.org</a>) an exchange program that lets American students work for a short time in the UK. It probably wouldn't work for 3 weeks, but if you wanted to go for a bit longer it is a great option. My daughter did it two years ago, the summer after her freshman year. She had the opportunity to go to London for the summer but needed to work while she was there. Once she got over to London, she had no trouble finding work, mostly in pubs. She finally ended up staying with an office job because the schedule was more compatible with that of her boyfriend who was in class all day and had his nights and weekends free. London was very expensive, but the program is not limited to that city so if you are interested in living and working in a outlying area or smaller city that is an option as well. It really was perfect for her needs that year and she and her boyfriend loved having those 3 months abroad. They often talk of going back and doing the work in Ireland program.</p>
